Apparatus for forming offset flanges on sheet metal panels and the like



s. LAMB 1,838,314 APPARATUS FOR FORMINGV OFFSET FLANGES ON SHEET METAL PANELS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. l2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Dec. 29, 1931.

DCC. 29, L. S. L APPARATUS FOR FORMING OFFSET FLANGES ON SHEET METAL PANELS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. l2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAWRENCE s. LAMB', or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AssIGNoRTO HUDSON MOTOR CAR COM- I'ANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN.

l window opening.

APPARATUS TOR ITORMING OFrsETFLANeEs ON SHEET METAI; TANRLSLANI) THE LIKE Application. filed December 12, 1927..'Sei'ia1 No. 239,282.

This inventionrelates to the manufacture of sheet metal` for `metal automobile bodies and particularly to the formation on such a panel of an offset flange -for carrying a weather strip adapted to engage the glass for thewindow opening.

In a co-pending application Serial No. 240,891 filed December 17, 1927, by Russell E. Hansen and Otto J. Groehn, (Patent No. 1,749,184, dated March 4, 1930) apparatus has been described for expanding and setting the window opening of .a door panel of the type to which the present invention relates and also for turning under the flange ofthe Itis an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for offsetting a flange but in `its more specific aspect is directed to odsetting an underturned flange of the type above mentioned to a position suitable for carrying a weather strip. In the practice ofthe invention an apparatus is employed comprising upper and lower dies which are arranged for relative Y movement and are positioned normally to provide a hollow shaped mold space or die over which the the flange to be Voffset Ais placed. Relative movement of the upper and lower die members causes a pressure to be exerted upon the flange to bend it inwardly along the previously weakened line of bend and in the opposite direction along a line spaced therefrom. The upper and lower dies are arranged so that the principal bending pressure is applied to the flange along a path intersecting the second line of bend.

Before explaining the invention in detail it is pointed out that the embodiment of the invention herein described is merely for the purpose of illustration and that the invention is not thereby limited except as defined by the appended claims. Y

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view Of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken upon the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and showing the relation of the parts at the beginning of operations;

"F ig. 4 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 3 showing the relation of the parts at the completion of operations;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of an outside panel forV an automobile door having the window opening flange osetin accordance with the provisions of the invention; and,

' Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section of an automobile door showing the weather strip mounted on the Voffset flange of the outsidedoor'panel. s

In the drawings an automobile door is illustrated (Fig. 6) having.' an outside panel 10 which is shaped as described in the above vmentioned co-pendingl application to provide a window opening l1 having an underturned flange 12. `In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the underturned liange 12 is offset so. that a weather strip 13 may be secured thereto in any suitable mans ner as bya nut 14 and bolt 15 to engage the glass .16 between the inside panel 17 and the outside panel 10. T

In the practice of the invention advantage is taken of the weakened condition of the metal along the line of bend where the flange of the window opening has been turned un der previously as described in the above mentioned co-pendingf. application. Thus, the underturned flange 12 is bent inwardly along the previously weakened line of bend 18 and then bent outwardly or in the opposite direction along a line spaced from said weakened line 'of bend.

A.V suitable apparatus for accomplishing thisV comprises a base 20 having spaced upwardly stepped projections 21 and 22. A gauge or guide 28 is securedat its lower end to the base 2O in any suitable manner as by bolts 24 and isprovided at its upper free end with an inwardly curved portion 25. A stationary lower die -member 30 is positioned Vupon the top surface or projection 21 andis suitably secured to the side surface 31 of projection 22 in any suitable manner as by screws 32. A suitable guide 33 is 4positioned upon the top surface ofthe base `20* and against the side surface 34 of projection 21 and is suitably secured to the base as by screws 35. A yieldingly movable lower die member 38 is positioned and guided between the stationary die member` 30 and the guide 33 and is provided with a lateral projection 40 at its lower end which is held normally in a raised position against a shoulder 4l upon the stationary die member 30 by springs 42 extending between openings 43 in the base 20 and openings 44 in the die member 38. The die member 38 is provided at its upper end with a portion 46 overhanging and normally spaced from the stationary die member 30. An upper die 50 is positioned appropriately upon a vertically reciprocable ram 51 and is suitably secured thereto as by screws 52. The adjacent surfaces of the die members 30, 38 and 50 are arranged substantially parallel.

In operation the panel 10 is positioned to rest upon the yieldingly movable lower die member 38, and preferably at an angle to the movement thereof, with the portion 46 thereof within the underturned flange l2 and with an upper portion of the door panel engaging the lower surface of the curved portion 25 of the guide 23. With the panel thus positioned, the upper die 50 is caused to move downward to engage a portion of the panel resting upon the yieldable member 38 and cause the latter to move downward yieldingly and thereby bring the underturned flange l2 into engagement with the top surface of the stationary lower die member 30. Further downward movement of the upper die 50 and the yielding lower die member 38 causes the stationary die member 30 to exert a pressure upon the underturned flange l2 to bend the latter inwardly along the previously weakened line of bend 18 and bend or crease it in the opposite direction along a line spaced from said weakened line of bend by jamming between the adjacent surfaces of the upper die 50 and yielding lower die 38 and stationary lower die member 30. Vhen the upper die is raised, the springs 42 move the die member 38 together with the door panel 10 upward thereby permitting the removal of the panel from the machine.

I claim j l. An apparatus for offsetting a portion of the fiange of the window opening of a metal automobile body door panel turned under along a given line to form a weather strip flange comprising a lower die having a yieldingly movable die member arranged to support the door at an angle to the movement thereof and fit within the space between the same and the underturned flange with the latter spaced from said member, said lower die including also a stationary die member adapted to engage the underturned flange, and an upper die movable in the direction of movement of said yielding member toward said lower die members to grip the panelen said yieldable member and cause the underturned flange to bend along the line of previous bend and thereafter wedge the same between the lower die members and the upper die.

2. An apparatus for offsetting a flange comprising a lower stationary die member, a yieldingly movable lower die member having a portion overlapping and normally spaced from said stationary member, an upper die overlapping the movable and stationary lower die members and movable towards the same, the stationary lower die member having intersecting top surfaces one of which is parallel to the adjacent surface of the overlapping portion of the movable lower die member and the other surface being parallel to the adjacent surface of the upper die whereby upon downward movement of the upper die said flange is offset an amount depending upon the line of engagement of said flange with the intersection of said top surfaces,

3. An apparatus for offsetting al flange comprising a lower die, and an upper die movable toward and away from the lower die, said lower die having a stationary member and a member yieldingly movable in the direction of movement of the upper die with a portion overlapping said stationary member, said upper die having one portion adapted to engage both the movable and stationary member of said lower die.

4. An apparatus for offsetting a flange comprising a lower die, and an upper die movable toward and away from the lower die, said lower die having a stationary member and a member yieldingly movable in the direction of movement of the upper die with a portion overlapping said stationary member, said stationary member having inclined intersecting surfaces one of which is arranged to cooperate with a surface of said movable member and the other of which is arranged to cooperate with a surface of the upper die.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LAWRENCE S. LAMB. 

